Can music journalists free themselves from conflicts of interests?

Music journalism is a career I have considered to pursue only to meet my favorite bands and musicians. The last time I took a music class was in elementary school. Despite my personal lack of qualifications, the world of music journalism has always fascinated me. Specifically, how journalists maintain their integrity and independence when they follow these musicians. 

According to an opinion piece written by Derk Richardson from the San Francisco Gate in 1999, music critics encounter conflicts of interest through cocktail party invitations, concert tickets and free CDs from the musicians they are critiquing. 

"If reviewers relied solely on the kindness of others to build their record libraries and get into shows, one might have reason to question the breadth of their knowledge and understanding, not to mention taste and critical judgment," Richardson wrote. 

Source: Rolling Stone Magazine 

I have a friend studying journalism who is a freelancer for a couple of national music publications. Once she was writing a review of an album and her publication expected her to write "good things" about the artist, despite her personal dislike of the album. Although she wasn't responsible for critiquing the music, she also shouldn't be expected to write exclusively "good things" about the album and the artist. 

Another criticism with music journalism that former employees have with the industry is fluff writing that thwarts journalistic integrity. The Sunday Guardian published a piece by Bhanuj Kappal that calls out the toxicity in indie music journalism. Kappal, who lives in India, said the problem is confined to India or indie music journalism. 

"These trends towards PR-driven churnalism are widespread in a global media industry struggling to make money on the internet," Kappal wrote. "But the lack of space for serious music journalism and the compromises music writers have to make is driving our best young talent out of the market. Disillusioned with the paid content paradigm, many young writers today are dropping out of music journalism in order to do jobs with more money and more integrity —like PR or advertising."

Kappal goes on to say good music critics are not distracted by conflicts of interest. Rather, they do their research and provide historical and musical context for their readers.  

"They look past the marketing and industry hype and bring to light new aesthetics and new artists," he wrote. "Through their writing, they engage both the audience and the artists in important conversations about where popular culture is and where it is heading. Without their honest voices, all you're left with is fluff and marketing."

Music journalists can avoid conflicts of interests by practicing discipline and diligence in their reporting and writing.